Described herein are methods for treating patients with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), comprising administering ferric citrate to such patients. In certain aspects, the patients treated for iron-deficiency anemia have a gastrointestinal disorder, such as inflammatory bowel disease, inflammatory bowel syndrome, Crohns disease, microscopic colitis (such as collagenous or lymphocytic colitis), or chemically-induced colitis (e.g., NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug)-induced colitis). In certain aspects, the patients treated for iron-deficiency anemia have blood loss associated with childbirth, menstruation or infection. In some aspects, the patients treated for iron-deficiency anemia have insufficient dietary intake of iron and/or insufficient absorption of iron.